From Liberia to the WNBA: Matee Ajavon Voted 5th by Houston Comets 04/10/08 - News Service Report   WNBA President Donna Orender, left, and Rutgers' Matee Ajavon, hold up a jersey after Ajavon was selected fifth overall in the first round of WNBA draft by the Houston Comets, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in Palm Harbor, Fla. AP Photos More than a decade after leaving war-torn Liberia, Matee Ajavon has arrived in the big leagues. The Liberian-born 5-foot-8 junior guard who has led fourth-seeded Rutgers Women’s basketball program into the second Final Four was on Wednesday voted as the number fifth pick by the WNBA’s Houston Comet. Ajavon has scored 20 or more points in seven of her last 10 games with Rutgers, averaging 12.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals overall. But the Comets which drafted Ajavon would welcome her all-round game as they aim to improve upon their 13-21 record from last season. Ajavon was one of the NCAA's top defensive players last season and named the MVP of the Big East Tournament. She was also on the Final Four All-Tournament team. Comets coach and general manager Karleen Thompson said after Wednesday’s draft, Ajavon was just what the doctor ordered as the team was in desperate need of shooters and quickness to develop a run-and-gun team for the 2008 season.  "She was our first choice and she is exactly what we wanted,'' Thompson said. The Comets finished 13-21 last season and fifth in the Western Conference. The team lost veteran forward Sheryl Swoopes, who signed with Seattle, but the Comets did sign three veterans in guard Tamecka Dixon, center Michelle Snow and forward Tina Thompson.   MATEE AJAVON College: Rutgers Height/position: 5'8 guard Round/pick: 1/5 College highlights: The Liberian was a first-team selection in the Big East the last two years. She concluded her career at Rutgers ranked eigth all time in scoring with 1,622 points, fourth in assists with 556 and fourth in steals with 275. On Her Selection:`"I had no idea that I would be headed to Houston, but I am really excited to go to a franchise with such a great history and amazing veteran players.' For Ajavon, it was a dream come true.  "I am elated about having the chance to play alongside these players who I have looked up to for so long,'' Ajavon said. But despite her ascendance to the big leagues, Ajavon, who left Liberia in 1992 along with her two older sisters, has not lost sight of the hardships she left behind. "My family calls; they go through a lot of hardships," she says. "It just makes me appreciate my life, and makes me want to do something. I want to change something about the world and Liberia, the way it is," says Ajavon, who is majoring in African-American studies and someday wants to be a teacher. "I think I have a lot to say, through studying and learning more about my heritage," she said. "I know what I'd say is repeating what a lot of people might say, but it's really the truth. I would tell kids to just pursue your dreams, whether you're an American child or child from anywhere. Don't let anything stop you." Last week, Ajavon was the Greensboro Regional's Most Outstanding Player, scoring 20 points in the fourth-seeded Scarlet Knights' 64-45 victory over No. 3 seed Arizona State. She also had 20 points in Rutgers' upset of No. 1 Duke on Saturday.  The draft was held at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla. Ironically, as Ajavon departs miles away to Houston her teammate and fellow guard Essence Carson will stay nearby. Carson stayed close to home as the seventh pick, going to the New York Liberty. "You look at them against these other guards and what does that tell you? It's not about scoring points,'' Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "People recognize who they are.'' FPA Staff/